Beardedbillygoat’s Fish & Shrimp Tank Journal

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

It’s unleaded glass, not crystal. It’s marketed for fish keepers so not sure what else to do there. I’ll update once I get the polyfilter. 

[Hobbit]

There are also these tests marketed for drinking water:

https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Iron-Copper-Mercury-Standards/dp/B07BRSMF76/ref=sr_1_3?crid=Z1OSPROWR9OL&dchild=1&keywords=heavy+metal+water+test+kit&qid=1627456249&s=industrial&sprefix=Heavy+metal%2Cindustrial%2C144&sr=1-3

Looking forward to seeing what the polyfilter does. 🤞

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Hobbitthanks for that. I’ll start with the polyfilter and work my way out from there. I’ve been debating how I’ll get flow through the polyfilter- I have some really small pumps was thinking of wrapping it with the polyfilter and zip tieing it on the pump. I also have an azoo minion hob but not sure I can get it on the bowl. 
 

updated sad bowl pics. 

[Guppysnail]

On 7/28/2021 at 3:20 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@Hobbitthanks for that. I’ll start with the polyfilter and work my way out from there. I’ve been debating how I’ll get flow through the polyfilter- I have some really small pumps was thinking of wrapping it with the polyfilter and zip tieing it on the pump. I also have an azoo minion hob but not sure I can get it on the bowl. 
 

updated sad bowl pics. 

 

On 7/28/2021 at 3:20 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

debating how I’ll get flow through the polyfilter- I

Wrap around sponge with a rubber band

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I have been busy in the last week. 

Firstly, the new “fish wall” has been setup. Still trying to decide on the setups. So far there’s a 10 g, 2 three gallons, a 30 g tote and a 27 g tote. 

The black and silver ricefish are now in my 10 g plant grow out. They’re in there with blue dream culls, 7 fireball platys, and some guppy fry. They’re starting to color up. 

The blue dreams are so prolific I’m very excited. I think I’ll go another round of spawns and then do a big cull and sell to my LFS. 

I am starting to plan 3 projects: 

1)bettas, planning to get some coppers, aliens and mixed breeds for a betta project. I’m debating on a 20 L split 4 ways vs a 40 breeder split 3-4 ways as a breeding setup 

2)multies - I have 5-7 coming this fall. I’m thinking a 27 g tote for them. 

3)a friend from work is giving me a 50 g Rubbermaid tote. I’m thinking that will become a permanent outdoor pond for whiteclouds. I think if I insulated it with foam and piles of rocks and ran air to it all winter it can be year round. 

looks like it needs a good scrub but overall in good Knick. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Just lost my new albino bushynose pleco, this male was the one I purchased at the Wet Spot early in July. He somehow got caught in some string that had held some Java moss to a piece of wood. You could see the internal hemorrhage as he must have fought and fought to get it off. I noticed a bunch of fish at the surface of the tank gasping and i immediately checked water parameters and my nitrates were a tad high but no ammonia. While doing the 50% water change I found his body. I had just posted about getting another pleco colony as my present one had been working out so well. Ugh. He’d nearly been successful with the largest female I’d watched them exploring different caves and sites with them lately settling on the most secluded pleco cave. I was really excited about my scheduled water change triggering a spawn and now this. Take good care in fishy heaven buddy. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Aww that's so very sad, he was a handsome fishy. 😞 What a terrible freak accident. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@xXInkedPhoenixXtragic, I am so bummed. He had changed the dynamic amongst that pleco group for the better. Not to mention he was a handsome fella. 

[Hobbit]

Yikes! This is the second story I’ve heard about a pleco getting in trouble with string. ☹️ I think I’ll be removing some fishing line from my driftwood just in case.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Well another week of fish keeping. The joys and the sorrows and the in between. We got to the river with our Portuguese Water Dog Stella Blue and had fun, saw a Crayfish, it was a beautiful time. The smoke has been brutal but occasionally beauty peers through if you look. 

 Sad Bowl update, I was changing water and a guppy fry somehow snuck into the bowl. He did ok the the first 48 hours but I saw him start to get lethargic and pulled him. As much as I want to wait and all I’m just done. So much work and I’ve gotten no traction. I’m going to start pulling plants and breaking it down. I’ve started to formulate a plan with either African dwarf frogs or Bubblebee gobies as the centerpiece. If I do the African frogs I’ll work on a black worm setup to feed them. I’ve been contemplating ways to integrate more live food for awhile. 

15 g Aqueon setup for my dwarf fireball teacup platys:

 I have all the gear just no time and space yet to put it/set it up. My wife now thinks she might want it in our bedroom. More to come on that one. 

So I got my first betta - nice looking fella. He nearly immediately got stressed out and I’ve done what I can for him. My efforts are working- he’s coloring up, eating and pooping. He’s responding to bettafix and some stress coat. I’m going to finish the bettafix and then do a water change. 

Funny thing happened at the fish store - my wife fell in love with some tetras - red eyes and diamonds were in a tank together- the red eyes and the shine and iridescence got her. I couldn’t say no so I used my QT tank ready and they look great. Water change and Med trio tonight. I’m just thrilled my wife is participating in the hobby and is really embracing it. She’s thinking about where she wants the tanks, which fish she likes and it’s great. This makes the hobby all the better to share it with her. 
 

My main 45 g display will be where the tetras will land. I decided with adding 14 tetras I’d need to increase filtration so I grabbed an emperor 400 - I’d watched some prime time aquatics videos and liked the reviews. It was a breeze to set up. I’m going to use it for mechanical filtration with a ton of sponge. I actually bought a bunch of Poret Foam from Swiss Tropicals that’s coming in soon. 

My last remaining pond is doing well. The whiteclouds seem to be getting fat and happy when I can see them through the plants. I’ve been debating whether to do something with the stock tank I got or wait for next spring. I’m favoring next spring. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Surprise surprise Mr Angry Face the Betta ate or terrorized my shrimps - an Amano literally jumped for his life out of the tank when I was trying to rescue him. The last Amano is now in one of my plant grow outs/plant qt. I guess he won’t have any friends. I’ve though about trying a mystery snail 🐌 but I’m not sure. 

[Hobbit]

Your angry betta sounds like my cat. She wants to kill all other cats that exist. I think her life would be better with a friend, but SHE doesn’t think so!

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Hobbityep literally had an Amano shrimp jump into the net to get away from him. He just kills and plays with them like a cat with a mouse. Debating on trying the mystery snail. @Guppysnailcould a betta do much damage to a mystery snail? 

[Guppysnail]

On 8/11/2021 at 4:10 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@Hobbityep literally had an Amano shrimp jump into the net to get away from him. He just kills and plays with them like a cat with a mouse. Debating on trying the mystery snail. @Guppysnailcould a betta do much damage to a mystery snail? 

Not normally.  It may nip an antenna but the snail will still be fine. One of mine lost an antenna tip to a zebra danio in January and it is just fine. I would think it unlikely to be quick enough to sneak a face shot in before the snail closes. Only thing I would watch for is if it’s a psycho aggressive betta obsessed with the snail as to not allow the snail time to eat. At which point your snail will become entirely nocturnal.  I have never heard of a betta actually killing one unless it’s a baby. I would go for a minimum size of a quarter or more as younger they need to eat all the time for healthy shell their growth is to rapid to be entirely nocturnal. When I was fostering my nieces tank her betta would use the snail as a shelf to rest on 😁 don’t go below ph 7 I know betta prefer softer too but snails need calcium and magnesium wondershells don’t bother betta and below 7 slowly erodes the shell and causes issues 

ps I’m sorry to see your beautiful sad bowl leaving. I will miss your telling of it. 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Guppysnail

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Guppysnailthanks so much! I will give it a try and if there are constant attacks I will put them in my shell dwellers tank - they have no interest in snails amazingly. 

The Sad Bowl will be coming back. It’s now empty which is driving my wife nuts. Oh the irony and she has rearranged our bedroom furniture as she wants the 15 g column tank with “her” fireball teacup platys + more kuhli loaches - she’s obsessed with them - front and center and we are negotiating what will be the next iteration of the bowl. I’ve been pushing for bumblebee gobies and guppies which she seems open to. 

And here’s the last picture of the Sad Bowl part 2 before everything came out. 

[Guppysnail]

Since you are bringing it back I was thinking the water surface area vs the bowl width and where the placement of the sponge is it may not be getting the correct amount of dissolved oxygen from enough surface agitation?.  Just a thought I’m very excited to read about your new bowl adventures!

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@GuppysnailYeah that’s come up in the past. Obviously the Oase/Biorb people think that the filtration should be in the middle of the bowl. I’m sure their engineers are smarter than I am. It brings up some interesting design challenges. Maybe I could do a volcano 🌋 and have the filter in there or perhaps a hollowed out piece of wood. Only think is It also inhibits the visual experience. One idea would be to go Walstad and have no filtration just some bubbles to break up the surface and get a little water movement. 

[Guppysnail]

On 8/11/2021 at 7:26 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@GuppysnailYeah that’s come up in the past. Obviously the Oase/Biorb people think that the filtration should be in the middle of the bowl. I’m sure their engineers are smarter than I am. It brings up some interesting design challenges. Maybe I could do a volcano 🌋 and have the filter in there or perhaps a hollowed out piece of wood. Only think is It also inhibits the visual experience. One idea would be to go Walstad and have no filtration just some bubbles to break up the surface and get a little water movement. 

I like the volcano. Years ago I used a piece from my cats water dish. It’s just a small 1.5 x1.5 pump to circulate as a wave maker since I could not find one small enough. I think I still have it I’ll get a pic if I do. It was easy to hide and I positioned it near the top to cause agitation. 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Guppysnail

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@GuppysnailI have one just like it from one of those 3 g hydroponic tanks. The other option I was considering was a DIY under gravel filter - saw this video on YouTube : 

I think the other option would be Walstad but that could take months to setup not sure my wife would tolerate the algae blooms and ups and downs. 

[Guppysnail]

On 8/12/2021 at 3:22 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@GuppysnailI have one just like it from one of those 3 g hydroponic tanks. The other option I was considering was a DIY under gravel filter - saw this video on YouTube : 

I think the other option would be Walstad but that could take months to setup not sure my wife would tolerate the algae blooms and ups and downs. 

I like that UGF option. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Firstly, thank you for the sense of community and fellowship I feel on the forum. I’ve had a hellacious week on the hospital service and the forum along with working on my tanks is the only way to quiet my mind. 

I’ve completed the build for my new 15 g column tank. Here’s the thread: 

 

This is the future home of my fireball Platys. I’m leaving the rest of the stocking to my wife. It’s really enjoyable having her participate. Tonight we watched videos, looked at Aquahuna, and she’s got definite opinions which is fun. 

Speaking of my wife “my babies” as she calls her red eye and diamond tetras have gotten through first round of meds with the qt trio and are looking great. They ate some krill flake yesterday and some mosquito larvae and some bug bites today. Their color is really starting to pop and this is with poor light. I’ve started clearing space for them in the 45 g - used mopani wood from it in the 15 g and put in some new substrate in the area where the wood had left a crater.

I’m on my week off after 7 days straight on service at the hospital so I had some time to do things I never get time for. Plant trimming, got my hands wet in all the upstairs tanks - my sons two tanks, the new 15 g and my 15 g Flex shrimp tank. What a joy and peace I find in maintenance. Wish I had this feeling in other areas of my life. 

I spent an hour in my blue dream Neocaridina setup (27 g tote) sorting for color and culling the blue rilis. Surprisingly only 5 - 3 males and 2 females needed to be culled. I’ve put them with some other culls in my plant growout. 

I’ve got a 3 gallon acrylic that’s growing some sweet green water. It’ll be interesting to see how that progresses. next to it is an identical tank which grows amazing moss. I’m thinking these will be betta female tanks long term. 

My betta setup for “O” or “Jeremy” or “Mr Grumpyface” (kids names for him) the betta is struggling after a week of Bettafix - plants are melting a bit. I’ve done 2 water changes in the last 3 days and dosing ferts. I’ve put some floaters in to pull any excess nutrients as well and give the betta some cover along with some water wisteria. 

The Sad Bowl remains empty. I’m going on vacation for 2 weeks so I’m just going to continue to ponder what to do with it. I’m actually happy to have something to plan for.

After that’s setup I’m going to build out a pleco colony tank - 40 gallon breeder. My wife and I have figured out the type of shelving to go on top of the wire for the racks along the fish wall so I now have a spot for the pleco tank. 

[Guppysnail]

Beautiful betta! I hope he feels better.  Finding relaxation and joy in actual maintenance is a huge part of why I love this hobby.  Hubby says I just like making work for myself.  I am very jealous of the roots on your floaters. I am struggling with my floaters. Enjoy your vacation. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the new sad bowl. 🙂

[Hobbit]

Sorry you had a rough week. Tanks are looking great though! The fish and plants look amazing.

[eatyourpeas]

I just found this post! How did I miss it? Thank you so much, @Beardedbillygoat1975 for sharing your amazing journey!

I hope all goes well with all the tanks and critters. After the smoke clears (pun intended), perhaps that will be the time when inspiration will visit. I have found that the tanks let you know what they want to be. Letting the bowl sit empty may allow for all of you to find the next journey. This hobby is not for the faint at heart. We get attached to our plants and critters and loses are devastating. And yet, we recover and strive to be better. And we  learn so much!

Thanks again! 🙂

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Guppysnailhe’s recovering nicely. I’ve been feeding him well with mosquito larvae and good foods. Used a tiny bit of salt yesterday as I don’t want the plants to melt more. I love the mood ring type qualities of bettas. he’s really growing on me. 

@Hobbiti can’t in retrospect say this week was worse than any of the others over the last year and 5 months but just feels cumulative. Thanks for the kindness.

@eatyourpeasI totally agree. Right now I have 3 to 4 design concepts in my head and I just need to decide as usual on the amount of time money and effort I want to put into it. My history with this bowl really makes me want to think this through thoroughly before I execute something. I’m inextricably tied to this bowl, it and I are one at this point so it’s got to feel right.
Here’s a pic from this AM of the new 15 g column and the Opae ula shrimps.